Joseph Malinowsky, the Florida man famously known as “Lt. Dan,” has been arrested in Tampa after gaining social media attention for riding out hurricanes on his small sailboat.
According to arrest records from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the 54-year-old was taken into custody on Friday for trespassing and failure to appear in court concerning previous charges related to operating an unregistered vehicle and lacking a valid driver’s license.
Malinowsky rose to social media stardom during Hurricane Milton, where he dismissed officials’ warnings to seek shelter, opting instead to remain aboard his boat as powerful winds from the Category 3 storm battered the Gulf Coast.
Describing the ordeal as “pretty mellow,” he recounted how his boat was slammed against a harbor wall. To escape the peril, he cut his anchor line, sacrificing a $250 anchor now lost to the bay.
“I was getting bashed against this wall, so I went out and cut my anchor line to get away from it,” he explained in an interview, remaining unfazed by the storm’s intensity.
Malinowsky attributed his calm demeanor to his faith, stating, “God told me to come here.” After moving to Florida from Colorado five years ago, he found his sailboat for just $1,200 and decided to ride out the storms.
As of Saturday, Malinowsky remained in jail, with no attorney listed to comment on his behalf. Coincidentally, on the same day as his arrest, actor Gary Sinise, who portrayed Lt. Dan in “Forrest Gump,” served lunch to deputies in nearby Pinellas County, highlighting his support for law enforcement.
The sheriff’s office celebrated Sinise’s visit in a Facebook post, acknowledging his generous gesture towards the local community.